Early American settlers mistakenly referred to wapiti as elk. They are known as elk in Europe and are called moose in North America.

These large deer are found in their greatest numbers in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Washington. Isolated pockets of elk are in California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Michigan. Very small numbers are in several eastern states, notably Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The height of an adult is about 150 cm at the shoulder. Male elk weigh up to 495 kg; females up to 293 kg. Females have no antlers and are approximately 25 percent smaller than males.

The habitat of the larger herds is mainly high, open mountain slopes. In winter, smaller groups are found in dense woods.

The males, called stags, live alone or in small groups apart from the main herd during most of the year, joining the herd only late August to November.